Enniskillen Royal Boat Club had a busy first weekend of racing on the water this year as members travelled to both Belfast for Lagan Scullers Head of the River and Lough Rynn in Leitrim for Irish Trials.
With the club highly focused on eights rowing, Lagan Scullers provided their first taste of sculling – rowing with two oars each – in smaller boats for many of the club’s younger members.
Leading the boat club down the course in the first race of the day was Connor and Michael Stewart who took victory in the Men’s Junior 16 doubles with a remarkable 35 second margin over their nearest rivals from Bann Rowing Club. The brothers stormed down the course overtaking a number of crews along the way to set the second fastest time of race one. Not to be outdone by her male counterparts, Victoria Wilson won the Women’s Junior 16 single with teammates Trudie McComb and Maria O’Doherty securing second and third place respectively. Gerry Murphy rounded of the day’s success in Belfast with victory in the Men’s Masters Single to win the Paddy Kemp Memorial Trophy.
Meanwhile in Leitrim, the club’s senior members were ever dominant at a Regional Irish Trial. On the boy’s side, Aaron Johnston and Nathan Timoney topped the rankings on the first day of racing with Enniskillen Royal Boat Club crews finishing in third, fifth and sixth place. On the girl’s side, the club achieved a one-two finish with Mia-Jayne Elliott and Zoe McCutcheon claiming victory over teammates Miriam Kelly and Caitlynn Fee by 9 seconds over the six-kilometer course. It was much the same on day two of racing as the club exhibited its strength in depth following a complete crew reshuffle. This time, Aaron Johnston and Ross Corrigan produced a dominant row to claim the top ranking, while Mia-Jayne Elliott and Caitlynn Fee similarly topped the girl’s side.
While these were promising results, the club will face stiffer competition in next month’s final Irish trial where crews from all over Ireland will compete in Cork for an Irish Selection this summer. Next up for the club is a return to home water with the 60th Erne Head of the River on Saturday 4th March.
